Departmental Domestic Visits

Phil Willis: To ask the Leader of the House what visits she made to  (a) Harrogate International Centre,  (b) International Conference Centre, Birmingham,  (c) Manchester Central,  (d) Scottish Exhibitional and Conference Centre, Glasgow,  (e) Edinburgh International Conference Centre,  (f) Bournemouth International Conference Centre,  (g) the Brighton Centre, Brighton,  (h) the Riviera Centre, Torquay,  (i) Queen Elizabeth Centre, London,  (j) Excel Conference Centre, Docklands, London and  (k) Business Design Centre, Islington, London, in the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2007; and what events she attended at each.

Helen Goodman: Neither my right hon. Friend, the Leader of the House, nor any of her predecessors visited any of the listed venues in a ministerial capacity as Leader of the House between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2007.

Genetics: Databases

David Davis: To ask the Solicitor-General how many individuals matched to UK records from the Dutch disk of DNA profiles sent to the Crown Prosecution Service are  (a) the subject of extradition requests by the Dutch authorities and  (b) subject to a UK arrest warrant.

Vera Baird: As part of an initiative to exchange data between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, 2,159 DNA profiles from crime scenes in the Netherlands have been searched against the UK National DNA Database. The DNA matches identified as a result are now the subject of ongoing police investigations, both here and in the Netherlands.
	Data arising as a result of this continuing police operation is liable to change subject to developments both here and in the Netherlands, and no information can be released which might in any way jeopardise ongoing investigations.

Culture: Exports

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what share of the UK's media exports were provided by the  (a) video games,  (b) television and  (c) film industries in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: have been asked to reply.
	The following table shows the value of UK exports of services for the creative industries provided by the  (a) 'software, computer games and electronic publishing'  (b) 'radio and TV and  (c) Video, film and photography' sectors. The share of UK 'media' exports is not available, so the share of all 'creative industries' exports has been provided instead. This share is only shown from 2000 onwards since data for total creative industries exports is not available in earlier years.
	
		
			  Exports of services for selected Creative Industries sectors (value, £ million) 
			   Software, games and electronic publishing  Radio and TV  Video, film and photography  Total 
			   Value  Share (%)  Value  Share (%)  Value  Share (%)  Value  Share (%) 
			 1997 1,400 — 500 — 710 — n/a — 
			 1998 1,700 — 640 — 680 — n/a — 
			 1999 2,300 — 730 — 730 — n/a — 
			 2000 2,500 26 690 7 940 10 9,500 100 
			 2001 3,900 35 910 8 910 8 11,000 100 
			 2002 3,500 31 1,000 9 840 7 11,300 100 
			 2003 3,900 34 1,000 9 810 7 11,600 100 
			 2004 4,700 36 1,300 10 940 7 13,000 100 
			 2005 4,800 33 1,300 9 1,200 8 14,600 100 
			 n/a = not available.   Source:  DCMS Creative Industries Economic Estimates statistical bulletin (Oct 2007) - based primarily on data from International Trade in Services', Office for National Statistics (ONS). 
		
	
	Total creative industries exports include exports of services in the following sectors: 'advertising', 'architecture', 'art and antiques', 'design', 'video, film and photography', 'music and the visual and performing arts', 'publishing', 'software, computer games and electronic publishing' and 'radio and TV'. Exports for the 'crafts' and 'designer fashion' sectors are excluded as consistent data is not available.
	The 'software, computer games and electronic publishing' sector comprises all firms classified in official business data under 'publishing of software', 'other software consultancy and supply' or 'reproduction of computer media' (only 25 per cent. of this class is included). Games development firms likely represent only a small proportion of this sector.
	The 'radio and TV' sector comprises firms classified in official business data under 'radio and television activities'.
	The 'video, film and photography' sector comprises firms classified in official business data under 'reproduction of video recording' (25 per cent. only), 'photographic activities' (25 per cent. only), 'motion picture and video production', 'motion picture and video distribution' or 'motion picture projection'.
	The UK Film Council also produces figures for the value of exports of services specifically by the film industry—as opposed to the wider 'video, film and photography' sector. Also based on ONS data, they estimate that these exports totalled £967million in 2005.

Bus Services: Concessions

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make an estimate of the annual cost of providing a free bus pass for pensioners which could be used for travel across local authority boundaries on a national basis.

Rosie Winterton: Our assessment of the likely cost impact of the new England-wide concession is based on generous assumptions about pass take-up, fares and increased patronage. On this basis, for 2008-09 we have allocated an additional £212 million (rising to £217 million and £223 million in the following years) to travel concession authorities in England from 1 April enough to fund around an extra 200 million bus journeys in local authorities across England.
	Our current focus remains on ensuring the successful introduction of the new England-wide concession on 1 April and at this stage we have made no detailed assessment of the cost of introducing mutual recognition of concessionary bus passes between Scotland, Wales and England.

Cycleways

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new cycle lanes and tracks have been created in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area.

Rosie Winterton: Data are available only from 2001-02. We do not have comprehensive audited returns which give reliable figures at local authority level. In addition; some authorities are no longer required to submit returns.

Cycling: Finance

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sources of funding are made available by  (a) her Department and  (b) organisations which report to her Department for the development of national cycle routes.

Rosie Winterton: The Department announced in January a £140 million investment for its cycling delivery body, Cycling England, over the next three years to complement local authority spend. This has a number of programmes including new routes to around 500 schools, building on the successful Links to Schools programme. In addition, £18.4 million of Government funding since 2005 has provided 295 Links to Schools which link over 600 schools and forms part of the National Cycle Network (NCN).
	£47 million has also been allocated on extending the Cycling Demonstration Towns (CDT) programme to up to 17 towns including a large city. The outcome of the bidding process for new CDTs is due to be announced later this year. Until the new CDTs and six existing ones develop their future programmes, it is not possible to say what the precise funding will be for increasing the cycle network in the CDTs.
	Local authorities provide on and off road cycle facilities such as cycle tracks and cycle lanes, using their Local Transport Plan (LTP) Integrated Transport Block grant from the DfT (which covers schemes costing less than £5 million and includes such cycle schemes) plus their own funding, the DfT Integrated Transport Block grant to local authorities is £372 million for 2008-09. The Department has encouraged local authorities to develop a cycling strategy as part of the LTP process from 2006 to 2011. It is for local authorities to determine the development of the local cycle networks as part of that strategy. Sustrans, who have developed the NGN, then work with local authorities to link the local networks to it. The Department is also providing £2.5 billion in 2008-09 to the Mayor of London through a Total Transport grant. The Mayor is responsible for determining how much is spent on cycling and the development of cycle networks in London.
	The above covers England only as that is the Department's responsibility. Responsibility for cycling in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a devolved matter for the administrations there.

Great Western Trains

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates  (a) she and  (b) the Minister for Railways met representatives of First Great Western in the last 12 months.

Tom Harris: The Secretary of State for Transport and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport have met representatives of First Great Western on the following dates in the last 12 months:
	 Secretary of State
	19 July 2007
	25 February 2008
	 Parliamentary Under-Secretary
	24 May 2007
	26 June 2007
	19 July 2007
	23 October 2007
	30 January 2008

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consider suspending the renewable transport fuel obligation until comprehensive certification and assessment schemes are put in place.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government have made clear that we will not support any increase in biofuel targets until we are satisfied that the biofuels can be delivered sustainably. That remains our position, and we are negotiating hard to ensure that future EU biofuel targets are underpinned by mandatory sustainability criteria Which are as robust and wide-ranging as possible.
	The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007 implements the RTFO scheme and the Government could not suspend the introduction of the RTFO without amending or repealing the order. The new amending or repealing order would require consultation in accordance with the Energy Act 2004 and would be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure, with debates in both Houses of Parliament.
	The Government believe that suspending the introduction of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) until such time as mandatory, EU-wide sustainability criteria for biofuels are in place would be counter-productive. The reporting requirements under the RTFO will cause suppliers to develop systems for capturing environmental and sustainability information which will help prepare for the introduction of mandatory standards and inform the development of those standards. In addition, the UK is widely perceived as playing a leading role in developing a sustainability framework for biofuels through the reporting requirements under the RTFO. Abandoning this could marginalise us in EU negotiations, and give other member states greater influence over the direction of the EU's future biofuel policies.

Roads: Tolls

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made on road pricing projects; where the projects are located; and what companies are involved in the projects.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are inviting the private sector to demonstrate how they might run a system of charging for road use according; to time of day and route chosen. On 12 March we issued, to eight pre-qualified bidders, the first Invitation to Tender in this two-year Demonstrations Project, for the framework for Road User Service Providers. We expect that this Framework Agreement will be established during June 2008, at which point an announcement: will be made as to which companies have been appointed.
	The location of the Demonstrations activity could be anywhere in England and Wales and will initially depend on where the successful bidders' volunteer road users are located.

Driving Under Influence: Young People

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) males and  (b) females under the age of 19 years were (i) arrested for (ii) charged with and (iii) convicted of driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol in each district command unit in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: This information is not available in the requested format.
	The following tables provide the numbers arrested and prosecuted for alcohol/drug related driving offences.
	
		
			  Table 1: Males under the age of 19 years prosecuted and convicted of alcohol/drug related driving offences by DCU address of offender 2002-06 
			   2002  2003  2004 
			   Prosecuted  Convicted  Prosecuted  Convicted  Prosecuted  Convicted 
			 Antrim 0 0 3 3 0 0 
			 Ards 2 2 2 2 3 3 
			 Armagh 0 0 4 4 1 0 
			 Banbridge 4 4 2 2 1 1 
			 Belfast East 2 2 1 1 2 2 
			 Belfast North 0 0 1 1 5 5 
			 Belfast South 1 1 0 0 4 4 
			 Belfast West 4 4 6 6 4 4 
			 Ballymena 1 1 1 1 3 3 
			 Ballymoney 0 0 3 3 0 0 
			 Carrickfergus 2 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Coleraine 2 2 4 4 4 4 
			 Cookstown 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Craigavon 2 2 4 3 5 5 
			 Castlereagh 2 1 2 2 1 1 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 3 2 1 1 2 2 
			 Down 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Fermanagh 5 5 4 4 1 1 
			 Foyle 3 3 4 4 4 4 
			 Larne 1 1 1 1 2 2 
			 Limavady 3 3 2 2 0 0 
			 Lisburn 8 7 1 1 5 5 
			 Magherafelt 2 2 2 2 0 0 
			 Moyle 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Newtownabbey 2 2 2 2 1 1 
			 North Down 4 4 2 2 5 5 
			 Newry and Mourne 2 2 2 1 5 4 
			 Omagh 3 3 0 0 1 1 
			 Strabane 1 1 1 1 3 3 
			 Missing(1) 1 1 3 3 2 2 
			
			 Total 61 58 59 57 64 62 
		
	
	
		
			   2005   2006  
			   Prosecuted  Convicted  Prosecuted  Convicted 
			 Antrim 3 3 3 3 
			 Ards 1 1 3 3 
			 Armagh 3 2 3 2 
			 Banbridge 2 1 1 1 
			 Belfast East 2 2 2 2 
			 Belfast North 7 7 6 4 
			 Belfast South 0 0 1 1 
			 Belfast West 2 2 2 2 
			 Ballymena 3 3 0 0 
			 Ballymoney 2 2 3 3 
			 Carrickfergus 2 2 2 2 
			 Coleraine 4 4 0 0 
			 Cookstown 0 0 1 1 
			 Craigavon 4 4 4 4 
			 Castlereagh 2 2 3 3 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 0 0 2 2 
			 Down 4 4 2 1 
			 Fermanagh 1 1 5 5 
			 Foyle 3 3 5 5 
			 Larne 1 0 1 1 
			 Limavady 1 1 1 1 
			 Lisburn 2 2 1 1 
			 Magherafelt 2 2 0 0 
			 Moyle 0 0 0 0 
			 Newtownabbey 1 1 5 4 
			 North Down 2 2 2 1 
			 Newry and Mourne 4 3 1 1 
			 Omagh 0 0 2 2 
			 Strabane 1 1 2 2 
			 Missing(1) 3 3 1 1 
			  
			 Total 62 58 64 58 
			 (1) Missing data relate to t hose offenders for whom DCU information is not available. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Females under the age of 19 years prosecuted and convicted of alcohol/drug related driving offences by police District Command Unit 2002-2006 
			   2002  2003  2004 
			   Prosecuted  Convicted  Prosecuted  Convicted  Prosecuted  Convicted 
			 Ards 0 0 1 1 1 1 
			 Armagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Belfast North 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Craigavon 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Down 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Larne 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Omagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Missing(2) 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Total 0 0 3 3 1 1 
		
	
	
		
			   2005  2006 
			   Prosecuted  Convicted  Prosecuted  Convicted 
			 Ards 0 0 0 0 
			 Armagh 1 1 1 1 
			 Belfast North 0 0 1 1 
			 Cookstown 0 0 0 0 
			 Craigavon 1 1 1 1 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 1 1 0 0 
			 Down 1 0 0 0 
			 Larne 0 0 0 0 
			 Omagh 0 0 1 1 
			 Missing(2) 1 1 1 1 
			  
			 Total 5 4 5 5 
			 (1) Only those DCUs where there were court outcomes are included for females (i.e. the DCUs in which females have been prosecuted or convicted in the previous five years have been included in the table). (2) Missing data relate to those offenders for whom DCU information is not available.

Drugs: Children

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children under the age of 16 years have been  (a) charged with and  (b) convicted of drug-related offences in each district command unit in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is set out in the following tables. Prior to 2006-07, the PSNI did not provide separate figures for the number charged and prosecuted.
	
		
			  Table 1 (a): Persons charged or summonsed for drug-related offences under the age of 16, 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Antrim 2 0 3 1 1 
			 Ards 0 1 2 0 2 
			 East Belfast 3 10 3 2 1 
			 North Belfast 3 1 3 2 1 
			 South Belfast 2 2 8 5 5 
			 West Belfast 3 0 3 2 5 
			 Carrickfergus 0 0 1 0 2 
			 Castlereagh 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Larne 1 1 0 1 0 
			 Lisburn 3 1 5 3 5 
			 Newtownabbey 0 0 0 2 0 
			 North Down 2 2 4 2 4 
			  Urban 19 18 32 21 26 
			   
			 Armagh 1 2 5 0 0 
			 Banbridge 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ballymena 2 3 4 1 1 
			 Ballymoney 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Coleraine 4 3 1 2 2 
			 Cookstown 0 0 3 1 1 
			 Craigavon 1 1 1 6 8 
			 Dungannon and S Tyrone 2 0 1 1 0 
			 Down 0 4 2 1 2 
			 Fermanagh 0 0 0 5 1 
			 Foyle 2 2 1 1 0 
			 Limavady 0 2 3 0 5 
			 Magherafelt 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Moyle 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Newry and Mourne 2 1 1 2 1 
			 Omagh 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Strabane 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Rural 14 18 24 21 21 
			 Northern Ireland total 33 36 56 42 47 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 1 (b): Breakdown of persons charged or summonsed for drug-related offences under the age of 16, 2006-07 
			   Charged  Summonsed  Total 
			 Antrim 0 1 1 
			 Ards 0 2 2 
			 East Belfast 0 1 1 
			 North Belfast 0 1 1 
			 South Belfast 1 4 5 
			 West Belfast 1 4 5 
			 Carrickfergus 0 2 2 
			 Castlereagh 0 0 0 
			 Larne 0 0 0 
			 Lisburn 0 5 5 
			 Newtownabbey 0 0 0 
			 North Down 0 4 4 
			  Urban 2 24 26 
			 
			 Armagh 0 0 0 
			 Banbridge 0 0 0 
			 Ballymena 0 1 1 
			 Ballymoney 0 0 0 
			 Coleraine 0 2 2 
			 Cookstown 0 1 1 
			 Craigavon 2 6 8 
			 Dungannon and S Tyrone 0 0 0 
			 Down 0 2 2 
			 Fermanagh 0 1 1 
			 Foyle 0 0 0 
			 Limavady 2 3 5 
			 Magherafelt 0 0 0 
			 Moyle 0 0 0 
			 Newry and Mourne 0 1 1 
			 Omagh 0 0 0 
			 Strabane 0 0 0 
			  Rural 4 17 21 
			 Northern Ireland total 6 41 47 
			  Source: Central Statistics Unit, Police Service of Northern Ireland. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of prosecutions and convictions for drug offences for persons aged 10 to 15 years old for the calendar years 2002 to 2006 by police district command unit 
			   2002  2003  2004 
			   Prosecutions  Convictions  Prosecutions  Convictions  Prosecutions  Convictions 
			 Antrim 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Ards 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Armagh 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Ballymena 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Belfast East 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Belfast North 0 0 1 1 1 1 
			 Belfast South 1 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Belfast West 1 1 0 0 1 1 
			 Carrickfergus 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Castlereagh 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Colerame 0 0 1 1 1 1 
			 Cookstown 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Craigavon 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Foyle 0 0 2 1 0 0 
			 Limavady 0 0 2 1 0 0 
			 Lisburn 0 0 1 1 1 1 
			 Newry and Mourne 0 0 0 0 2 2 
			 Newtownabbey 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Down 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Omagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northern Ireland total 4 3 9 7 12 11 
		
	
	
		
			   2005  2006 
			   Prosecutions  Convictions  Prosecutions  Convictions 
			 Antrim 0 0 0 0 
			 Ards 2 2 1 1 
			 Armagh 0 0 0 0 
			 Ballymena 1 1 1 1 
			 Belfast East 0 0 0 0 
			 Belfast North 0 0 2 2 
			 Belfast South 3 3 1 1 
			 Belfast West 0 0 1 1 
			 Carrickfergus 0 0 2 2 
			 Castlereagh 0 0 0 0 
			 Colerame 0 0 0 0 
			 Cookstown 0 0 0 0 
			 Craigavon 0 0 0 0 
			 Foyle 1 1 0 0 
			 Limavady 0 0 1 1 
			 Lisburn 0 0 1 1 
			 Newry and Mourne 1 1 0 0 
			 Newtownabbey 0 0 1 1 
			 North Down 1 1 0 0 
			 Omagh 1 1 0 0 
			 Northern Ireland total 10 10 11 11 
		
	
	These tables of statistics are not directly comparable as statistics on charges are compiled by the PSNI on a financial year basis, and statistics on convictions are compiled by the courts on a on a calendar year basis.

Missing Persons

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons registered as missing in Northern Ireland have been missing for  (a) less than one year and  (b) more than five years; and what percentage these figures represent of the total number of persons missing.

Paul Goggins: Missing persons are dealt with at district level. The information requested could not be provided without conducting a full examination of the records of each district, which could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.
	However, an exercise conducted for the Northern Ireland Policing Board in November 2007 calculated the number of missing persons reported each in year since 2002 as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2007(1) 581 
			 2006 642 
			 2005 689 
			 2004 684 
			 2003 668 
			 2002 437 
			 (1 )Up until November 2007. 
		
	
	There were 68 persons registered as missing in Northern Ireland as of early November 2007. Only a very small number of persons reported missing are not subsequently located.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle have died or been slaughtered in  (a) England,  (b) Cumbria and  (c) Copeland constituency because of bovine tuberculosis over the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: Our extensive bovine TB testing programme ensures that, generally, cattle showing signs of exposure to bovine TB are identified and slaughtered before the disease has become too advanced. Cattle with advanced bovine TB, or cattle dying from the disease, are very rarely found.
	The number of cattle slaughtered under bovine TB control measures in England and Cumbria are shown in the following table. It is not possible to break the data down to a constituency level.
	
		
			   Number of cattle slaughtered( 1) 
			   England  Cumbria 
			 2003 17,551 275 
			 2004 17,306 510 
			 2005(2) 23,135 168 
			 2006(2) 16,007 114 
			 2007(2) 19,794 29 
			 (1) Includes cattle slaughtered as skin and gamma-interferon test reactors, skin test inconclusive reactors and direct contacts. (2) 2005-07 figures are provisional, subject to change as more data becomes available.

Caravan Sites

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether his Department has held a consultation on proposed amendments to the time limit given in paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960;
	(2)  what organisations have exemption certificates under paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960;
	(3)  what discussions his Department has had with the devolved administrations on proposed changes to Schedule 1 to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960;
	(4)  what representations his Department has received on the proposed changes to the time limit given in paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.

Jonathan R Shaw: Any proposal for amendments to the time limit given in paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to the Caravan Sites and Control Development Act 1960 would require new primary legislation. DEFRA has no plans for any such legislation.
	DEFRA and Natural England, who now deal with the issue of exemption certificates under the 1960 Act, are updating, and consolidating into a single document, the existing guidance on applications for exemption certificates for both caravans and camping. We have consulted the devolved administrations and the major camping and caravanning organisations, including the Association of Caravan and Camping Exempted Organisations, about the new document.
	The document reiterates previous guidance on the time limit for paragraph 6 exemptions—consisting of a maximum of five periods of 24 hours commencing when the first caravan is stationed on the rally site.
	Exempted organisations which, prior to any exempted rally, wish to have a single caravan on the rally site to assist with the setting up of an event may rely on the additional exemption under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 of the 1960 Act. This provides that a site licence is not required for the use of land by a person travelling with a caravan for not more than two nights. The exemption is subject to the condition that only one caravan is allowed and the total number of days in any twelve month period on which a caravan was stationed anywhere on the site, or any adjoining land in the same ownership, cannot exceed 28 days.
	DEFRA and Natural England are considering representations from the major camping and caravan organisations. We expect to finalise the single guidance document by the summer of 2008.
	There are over 300 organisations who hold exemption certificates under paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 of the 1960 Act, so it is not practical to list them. A list of the organisations is publicly available on the Natural England website.

Climate Change

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what research he has evaluated to develop his policy on anthropomorphic climate change;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the reliability of the scientific evidence on which each of the four Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports has been based; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the reliability of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports in developing his policies on climate change.

Phil Woolas: The scientific basis for understanding anthropogenic climate change is extremely strong. DEFRA evaluates the evidence provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its comprehensive reports, as well as through DEFRA and Ministry of Defence funded climate research undertaken by the UK's world-leading Met Office Hadley Centre, in Exeter; and through ongoing contact with other climate researchers in the UK and elsewhere.
	Four assessment reports have been completed in 1990, 1995, 2001 and the latest in 2007. The UK fully supports the work of the IPCC and regards its assessments as providing the most authoritative view of climate change. The IPCC assessments have fully informed the development of domestic climate policy and the UK position in international climate negotiations.
	Hundreds of UK scientists were involved in the preparation of the fourth assessment report and DEFRA supports lead authors and review editors to participate in IPCC writing groups.

Government Offices for the Regions

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of his Department's programme budgets were administered by the Government Offices of the Regions in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: None of my Department's programme budgets are directly administered by the Government Offices.
	We have a number of programme budgets administered centrally by my Department which fund projects within the Government Office regions, and the Government Offices have an oversight role on these regional funds, in terms of how and where the money is spent. The following table sets out a number of programmes where the Government Office has had an oversight role in each of the last five years.
	More generally, Government Offices have a key role to play on the DEFRA agenda by acting as environmental leaders and working in partnership with local stakeholders on cross-cutting issues such as climate change, sustainable development natural environment and waste.
	
		
			   DEFRA programmes indirectly administered by the Government Offices 
			   
			 2003-04 Sustainable Development Publicity 
			 2002-03 Sustainable Development Publicity 
			  Leader + 
			  European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund 
			  Regional Rural Affairs Forums 
			  Waste Regional Support Fund 
			  Sustainable Food and Farming 
			  Waste Implementation Programme 
			  Leader + 
			  European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund 
			  Regional Rural Affairs Forums 
			   
			 2004-05 Sustainable Development Publicity 
			  Waste Regional Support Fund 
			  Sustainable Food and Farming 
			  Waste Implementation Programme 
			  Leader + 
			  European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund 
			  Regional Rural Affairs Forums 
			   
			 2005-06 Sustainable Development Publicity 
			  Waste Regional Support Fund 
			  Sustainable Food and Farming 
			  Waste Implementation Programme 
			  Leader + 
			  European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund 
			  Regional Rural Affairs Forums 
			  Rural Social and Community Programme 
			   
			 2006-07 Sustainable Development Partnership and Innovation Fund 
			  Waste Regional Support Fund 
			  Sustainable Food and Farming 
			  Waste Implementation Programme 
			  Leader + 
			  European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund 
			  Regional Rural Affairs Forums 
			  Rural Social and Community Programme

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the oral answer of 22 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1138, on the al-Jameat police station, what reports he has received of the steps taken by the Iraqi Government against the members of the serious crime unit.

Des Browne: The Basrah police continue to work to enforce and execute the arrest warrants issued for members of the former Serious Crimes Unit of the Basra police.

Departmental Data Protection

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  whether personal data for which his Department is responsible is  (a) stored and  (b) processed overseas; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what audits his Department carried out in relation to personal data and IT equipment in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  what requirements his Department and its agencies place on contractors in relation to audit of personal data and IT equipment.

Tom Watson: None of the personal data for which the Cabinet Office is responsible are stored or processed overseas.
	The Cabinet Office operates in accordance with the Manual of Protective Security and the Data Protection Act. Measures are in place to monitor the personal data the Department holds. A full audit of centrally provided IT equipment was undertaken in January 2007, since then a monthly review is held to agree any changes. Information prior to January 2007 is not held centrally.
	The Cabinet Office requires its contractors to comply with their obligations under the provisions of the Data Protection Act which includes taking appropriate technical and organisational measures against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data and ensures the security of such data.

Colombia

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring and evaluation of UK support provided to the Colombian military his Department conducts; by what mechanisms such monitoring takes place; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: UK assistance to Colombia, which includes support to a range of civil society organisations, the Colombian Government and the armed forces, is focused on improving the difficult human rights situation, preventing the amount of cocaine reaching the UK's streets and reducing the threats that landmines pose to the Colombian people.
	All British projects in Colombia, as elsewhere, undergo rigorous evaluation before funding is agreed, in areas such as value for money and effectiveness of implementing partners; and carefully monitored whilst projects are under way in terms of proper use of funds, achievement of objectives and outputs. UK staff continually and scrupulously supervise the use of British resources in Colombia to ensure that the highest operational, ethical and human rights standards are maintained in our human rights and counter narcotics work.
	We evaluate that UK assistance is having a positive effect on the issues of most concern in Colombia. The UK has played a key role in working to institutionalise respect for human rights in the Colombian armed forces, so that they operate by the same high standards we demand of our own armed forces. Our counter-narcotics work is tightly focused on helping the Colombians tackle drugs production, trafficking organisations and networks. Our training in humanitarian demining has improved the Colombian Government's ability to remove the landmines that illegal armed groups place to harm innocent civilians.

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the future of the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia after 2010; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) currently estimates the completion of existing trials and appeals by 2011. The UK strongly supports the Tribunal's efforts to fulfil its mandate as efficiently and quickly as possible. At the same time, the UK is actively engaged in Security Council discussions to agree a coherent framework to deal with residual functions, including a mechanism to try fugitive indictees of ICTY and the other ad hoc tribunals following the completion of their work.

Gambling

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps the Government have taken to tackle gambling addiction.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 26 March 2008
	I refer my hon. Friend, the member for Coventry South, to the answer I gave him on 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1305W.
	The principle step that the Government have taken recently to address gambling addiction has been to implement the Gambling Act 2005, which from 1 September 2007 has introduced a range of licence conditions and codes of practice designed to protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling. The Gambling Commission and licensing authorities have been given wide-ranging powers to enforce these conditions, and all gambling operators must comply with the new rules or risk losing their licence.

Licensing

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) on-licences,  (b) off-licences and  (c) public entertainment licences have been issued in each local authority area in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The number of Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates issued under the Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) and broken down by licensable activity as at 31 March 2007 for each Licensing Authority area is available from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/7F01712CB2294A2FB313DF89D542E29C/0/TableQ2_revised9nov.xls
	 Source:
	Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Statistical Bulletin 2006/07.
	Prior to the implementation of the 2003 Act, data on the number of alcohol licences and certificates granted and renewed in England and Wales under the Licensing Act 1964 was collected by petty sessional divisions (magistrates court areas) on a triennial basis, in accordance with the three yearly cycle of licence renewals. On and off-licensed premises and other liquor licensing data, by petty sessional division as at 30 June 2004 can be found on Table 9 at this website address:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F96FD9EFC8174E07B1A46F4D4EA9F2A3/0/7138BLiquorReport.pdf
	 Source:
	Liquor Licensing Statistical Bulletin 2003/04.
	No data was collected centrally on the number of public entertainment licences issued by local authorities prior to the implementation of the 2003 Act.

Olympic Games

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role his Department has in managing the procession of the Olympic Torch through London on 6 April.

Andy Burnham: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has had no role in managing the procession of the Olympic torch through London on 6 April.
	The invitation for a city to host a section of an Olympic or Paralympic torch relay goes directly to that city and the National Olympic Committee. The Greater London Authority (GLA) has therefore been managing the operational details of the torch relay leg on 6 April. GLA has kept us updated as their plans have progressed.

Press

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of the press offices of  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies were in each year since 1996-97; what the cost was in each quarter since 1 April 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has one agency, the Royal Parks Agency. The total annual costs of the press offices of the department and the Royal Parks Agency for each year from 1996-97 to 2006-07 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   DCMS (£)  Royal Parks Agency (£) 
			 1996-97 236,524 37,395 
			 1997-98 — 42,364 
			 1998-99 — 43,559 
			 1999-2000 — 52,157 
			 2000-01 582,442 55,688 
			 2001-02 657,139 57,275 
			 2002-03 712,623 58,325 
			 2003-04 814,244 59,395 
			 2004-05 831,802 59,693 
			 2005-06 861,799 60,723 
			 2006-07 1,126,541 61,938 
		
	
	Costs provided for the Royal Parks Agency is an estimate based on current staffing levels.
	Costs for the department for 1996-97 and 2000-01 have previously been provided in a written answer to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 10 April 2002,  Official Report, column 319W.
	Information for 2007-08 cannot be included as the current year's expenditure has not yet been audited.
	Information regarding the cost of the department's press office from 1997-98 to 1999-2000, and the total annual cost of the press offices for the department's non-departmental public bodies from 1996-97 to 2006-07, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Carers Allowances

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse would be of not offsetting carers' allowance against  (a) the basic state pension and  (b) other benefits.

James Plaskitt: After adjusting for offsets in income-related benefits and pension credit, the estimated cost of exempting all pensioners with entitlement to carer's allowance from the overlapping benefits rule would be around £310 million.
	This estimate does not take account of carers presently not claiming carer's allowance who might be encouraged to do so by a change in the rules.
	The estimated cost of exempting all those of working age with entitlement to carer's allowance from the overlapping benefits rule after adjusting for offsets in income-related benefits would be around £90 million.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average duration is of a claim for jobseekers allowance when the claimant maintains their claim  (a) in person once a fortnight and  (b) by post.

James Plaskitt: No such breakdown is available because the normal expectation is that people will maintain their claim in person.
	For jobseeker's allowance claims ending in January 2008, the median duration of claim was 9.4 weeks (Great Britain).
	 Notes
	1. Figures are based on computer held cases only.
	2. The median indicates that half of the clams ending in January 2008 were shorter than 9.4 weeks and half were longer.
	 Source
	100 per cent count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus Computer Systems.

Debt Collection: Standards

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent steps the Government has taken to protect householders from unscrupulous bailiffs.

Maria Eagle: The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 introduces a single piece of bailiff law which brings together in one place the legal structure for all warrant enforcement, written in terms that are easily understandable and which clearly outline the rights and responsibilities of creditors, debtors and enforcement agents. This unified single piece of enforcement agent law will apply across the board to all enforcement agents.
	The package of measures in the Act will lead to a more highly qualified, better trained and professional industry, fairly rewarded for carrying out what can be a difficult task in trying conditions, performing to the best of their ability while remaining within the letter and spirit of the law.
	The enhanced and extended certification process will be a major contribution towards a fully regulated, highly trained and professional enforcement industry.

Offenders: Education

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding has been provided for education and skills enhancement for offenders  (a) in custody and  (b) serving community sentences for 2008-09, broken down by funding source; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	We can protect the public by helping offenders become more productive members of society, and it is clear that an important way of doing that is to tackle the low skills and worklessness that can be major obstacle stop an offender living free of crime. Thus the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills devotes significant resource to providing education and training in prisons and for offenders in the community.
	In financial year 2006-07 we provided a total of £156 million to support offender learning including funding for Prison libraries and salaries for Heads of Learning and Skills in prisons, the majority of which was routed through the Learning and Skills Council as new offender learning planning and delivery arrangements were introduced across England from August 2006.
	The Learning and Skills Council also spent a further £30 million in European Social Funding for the two calendar years 2006 and 2007, and established a £13.9 million budget from EQUAL funding for the period December 2006 to March 2008 to meet additional provision for offenders both in custody and in the community.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Admissions

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of admitting a patient to hospital through the accident and emergency department was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The specific information requested cannot be provided, as the average cost of admission through accident and emergency (A and E) departments is not collected. However, information is available on the average cost of treating patients in A and E departments who are subsequently admitted. This information is collected each year through the national health service reference cost collection exercise. The following table sets out the information reported for 2006-07. A copy of the national schedule of reference costs for 2006-07 has been placed in the Library and is also available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_082571
	
		
			  National schedule of reference costs 2006-07—NHS trusts—A and E services leading to admitted 
			  Accident and emergency services  Number of attendances  National average unit cost (£)  Number of data submissions 
			 Any investigation with category 5 treatment 107,805 102 92 
			 Category 3 investigation with category 4 treatment 10,459 338 95 
			 Category 3 investigation with category 1-3 treatment 82,486 151 127 
			 Category 2 investigation with category 4 treatment 80,381 182 107 
			 Category 2 investigation with category 3 treatment 134,832 158 120 
			 Category 1 investigation with category 3-4 treatment 41,097 123 116 
			 Category 2 investigation with category 2 treatment 166,338 140 117 
			 Category 2 investigation with category 1 treatment 1,274,236 123 124 
			 Category 1 investigation with category 1-2 treatment 629,947 90 127 
			 Dental Care 72 477 8 
			 No investigation with no significant treatment 920,579 71 126 
			 Emergency and urgent care: Dead On Arrival 490 186 7 
			  Notes: 1. National average unit costs are calculated on a weighted basis. 2. 2006-07 data is not directly comparable to 2005-06 due to the change from the HRG3.5 currency in 2005-06 to the HRG4 currency in 2006-07.

Ambulance Services: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) fastest,  (b) slowest and  (c) mean response time of emergency ambulances to incidents occurring in Ribble Valley constituency was in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the hon. Member might want to contact the North West Ambulance Service directly to explore if this data is locally available.
	The ambulance response time data that is collected, and which includes the number of emergency calls received by ambulance trusts across England and their performances against the targets set, is published annually. The latest statistical bulletin, "Ambulance Services, England, 2006-07" was published in June 2007. Copies of the bulletin are available in the Library.

Bowel Cancer: Screening

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he issues on bowel cancer screening services in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Advice to the national health service to participate in Wave 1 (2006-07) and Wave 2 (2007-08) of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (NHS BCSP) was issued in July 2005 and February 2007 respectively. Advice to the NHS for bids to participate in Wave 3 (2008-09) of the NHS BCSP will be issued shortly.
	Copies of this advice, and all NHS BCSP guidance and quality standards, has been placed in the Library.

British Association of Immediate Care Doctors: Finance

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much he allocated to the support of British Association of Immediate Care Doctors in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not allocated any funding to support the British Association of Immediate Care doctors in each of the last five years.

British Association of Immediate Care Doctors: Standards

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the  (a) performance and  (b) contribution of British Association of Immediate Care Doctors in the treatment of severe trauma; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department acknowledges the valuable support that British Association of Immediate Care (BASIC) doctors offer to the national health service locally, recognising that the availability of medical advice and assistance can bring added advantages to some seriously injured patients. However, it is a matter for the NHS locally to decide how they use BASIC doctors, and where they are in a position to provide this support, close links will be made to ensure that they are used to the greatest advantage.

Care Homes

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care homes have been  (a) opened and  (b) closed in each of the last 10 years.

Ivan Lewis: Information is available from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) for the years from 2002-03, when the National Care Standards Commission began work. Prior to this, data on total numbers of homes were collected by local councils, but figures on numbers opening and closing is not held centrally.
	CSCI has provided information on registrations and de-registrations of care homes, which is shown in the following table. The number of de-registrations exceeds the number of permanent closures because homes may deregister temporarily, for example, for refurbishment, on change of ownership or when a new manager is appointed. The numbers of permanent closures cannot be identified separately.
	
		
			  Number of new registrations and de-registrations of care homes by year 
			   De-registrations  New registrations 
			 2002-03 2,443 1,916 
			 2003-04 2,941 2,495 
			 2004-05 1,811 1,374 
			 2005-06 1,921 1,578 
			 2006-07 1,681 1,456 
			 2007-08(1) 1,204 1,087 
			 (1) 1 April 2007 to 4 March 2008.   Source:  CSCI registration and inspection database as at 4 March 2008.

Care Homes

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care homes with  (a) 10 or fewer,  (b) between 10 and 20,  (c) between 30 and 50,  (d) between 50 and 100 and  (e) more than 100 residents have (i) opened and (ii) closed in each of the last 10 years.

Ivan Lewis: Information is available from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) for the years from 2002-03, when the National Care Standards Commission began work. Prior to this, data on total numbers of homes was collected by local councils, but information on numbers opening and closing is not held centrally.
	CSCI has provided information on the numbers of new registrations and de-registrations of care homes, which are shown in the tables. The number of de-registrations exceeds the number of registrations because homes may de-register temporarily, for example, for refurbishment, on change of ownership or when a new manager is appointed. The numbers of permanent closures cannot be identified separately.
	
		
			  Number of new registrations of care homes by financial year and number of registered places( 1) 
			   Financial year 
			  Number of registered places  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08( 2) 
			 10 or fewer 778 629 466 561 510 389 
			 Between 10 and 20 306 471 263 285 267 199 
			 Between 21 and 29 257 453 237 237 189 146 
			 Between 30 and 50 459 801 304 336 269 231 
			 Between 51 and 100 102 137 100 148 205 118 
			 More than 100 14 4 4 11 16 4 
			 Total 1,916 2,495 1,374 1,578 1,456 1,087 
			 (1) The number of registered places denotes the maximum capacity of the home, not the number of residents at any given time. (2 )To 4 March 2008.  Source: CSCI registration and inspection database as at 4 March 2008. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of de-registrations of care homes by financial year and number of registered places 
			   Financial year 
			  Number of registered places  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08( 1) 
			 10 or fewer 1,557 1,353 651 693 557 392 
			 Between 10 and 20 443 631 432 408 354 262 
			 Between 21 and 29 205 427 326 304 252 196 
			 Between 30 and 50 193 438 351 400 337 271 
			 Between 51 and 100 41 90 51 112 168 81 
			 More than 100 4 2  4 13 2 
			 Total 2,443 2,941 1,811 1,921 1,681 1,204 
			 (1) To 4 March 2008.  Source: CSCI registration and inspection database as at 4 March 2008.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cervical cancer screenings took place in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The following table shows cervical screening coverage in the areas requested. We are unable to identify Jarrow separately. Jarrow constituency is within South Tyneside Primary Care Trust (PCT), for whom information has been provided.
	Coverage is the percentage of eligible women who have had a cervical screening test result in the previous five years.
	
		
			  Cervical screening programme: coverage of the Target Age Group (25-64) for specified organisations, 31 March 1997 to 2007 
			1997  1998  1999  2000  2001 
			  England   
			  Eligible population (1) 12,240,749 12,582,054 12,453,118 12,604,246 12,667,226 
			  Women screened (less than 5 years since last adequate test) (2) 10,033,255 10,378,399 10,254,930 10,338,759 10,304,333 
			  Coverage (less than five years since last adequate test) (%) 82.0 82.5 82.3 82.0 81.3 
			  of which:   
			  North East Strategic Health Authority (SHA)  
			  Eligible population (1) 632,702 635,844 637,230 638,030 636,156 
			  Women screened (less than five years since last adequate test) (2) 539,659 541,229 534,130 533,106 527,592 
			  Coverage (less than five years since last adequate test) (%) 85.3 85.1 83.8 83.6 82.9 
			  of which:   
			 QDG Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority(HA)  
			  Eligible population (1) 88,069 87,847 86,676 86,600 86,226 
			  Women screened (less than five years since last adequate test)(2) 74,563 74,079 71,965 71,561 70,616 
			  Coverage (less than five years since last adequate test) (%) 84.7 84.3 83.0 82.6 81.9 
			 5KF Gateshead PCT  
			  Eligible population (1) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Women screened (less than five years since last adequate test) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Coverage (less than five years since last adequate test) (%) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT  
			  Eligible population(1) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Women screened (less than five years since last adequate test) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Coverage (less than five years since last adequate test) (%) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  England
			  Eligible population (1) 12,714,779 12,686,444 12,804,440 12,886,373 13,099,159 13,192,905 
			  Women screened (less than 5 years since last adequate test) (2) 10,368,952 10,305,215 10,325,821 10,346,486 10,418,583 10,444,133 
			  Coverage (less than five years since last adequate test) (%) 81.6 81.2 80.6 80.3 79.5 79.2 
			  of which:
			  North East Strategic Health Authority (SHA)   
			  Eligible population (1) 632,024 630,064 631,995 634,377 638,387 646,091 
			  Women screened (less than five years since last adequate test) (2) 524,359 520,264 518,820 518,261 516,756 518,142 
			  Coverage (less than five years since last adequate test) (%) 83.0 82.6 82.1 81.7 80.9 80.2 
			  of which:
			 QDG Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority(HA)   
			  Eligible population (1) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Women screened (less than five years since last adequate test)(2) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Coverage (less than five years since last adequate test) (%) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 5KF Gateshead PCT   
			  Eligible population (1) 50,287 49,598 49,518 49,711 50,034 51,220 
			  Women screened (less than five years since last adequate test) 41,289 40,653 40,419 40,632 40,380 40,623 
			  Coverage (less than five years since last adequate test) (%) 82.1 82.0 81.6 81.7 80.7 79.3 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT   
			  Eligible population(1) 36,838 36,609 36,583 36,497 36,641 37,031 
			  Women screened (less than five years since last adequate test) 30,249 29,917 29,708 29,338 29,071 29,000 
			  Coverage (less than five years since last adequate test) (%) 82.1 81.7 81.2 80.4 79.3 78.3 
			 n/a = not available. (1) This is the number of women in the resident population less those with recall ceased for clinical reasons (2) Data prior to 2002 are estimates, original data were based on last test with a result, not last adequate test (as used currently) and have been adjusted to allow for this.  Notes: 1. National policy for the cervical screening programme is that eligible women aged 25 to 64 should be screened every three or five years (women aged 25 to 49 are screened every three years, those aged 50 to 64 every five years). 2. Jarrow constituency is within South Tyneside PCT, we are unable to identify Jarrow separately. 3. Data prior to 2006 has been estimated to match current SHA boundaries. 4. Data from 2002 to 2006 has been estimated to match current primary care organisation boundaries.  Source:  KC53, Parts A2 and A3, The Information Centre for health and social care.

Chemicals: Health Hazards

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the (i) neurotoxic, (ii) genotoxic, (iii) mutagenic and (iv) carcinogenic effects of long-term exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls on (A) human foetuses, (B) young children and (C) adults.

Dawn Primarolo: The World Health Organisation International Programme on Chemical Safety, with funding from the Department, has recently reviewed the data on the toxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls in their Concise International Chemical Assessment Documents Series. This is available at:
	www.inchem.org/documents/cicads/cicads/cicad55.htm
	Human studies have identified associations between exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl mixtures and adverse reproductive effects (effects on sperm motility, foetal growth rate and development and neurological function in the offspring), and cancer. However, the human studies are restricted by limited exposure data, inconsistency among some results, and the presence of confounding factors; these make it impossible to use them as a basis for risk estimations and thus cannot be assessed.
	Data from animal and related experiments indicates that polychlorinated biphenyls do not have any significant mutagenic or genotoxic properties but they are carcinogenic. Neurodevelopmental effects have been observed in several animal species after exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls.

Headaches

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of the population that experience regular and severe migraine and other headache-related disorders;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of headache disorders on absenteeism in the NHS;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the provision of NHS services for those who experience regular and severe headache disorders;
	(4)  how many specialist headache clinics there are.

Ann Keen: We have made no estimate of the percentage of the population that experience regular and severe migraine and headaches.
	No assessment has been made of the effect of headache disorders on the national health service.
	No assessment has been made of the provision of NHS services for those living with regular and severe headache disorders. The provision of services to meet the needs of those living with migraine and headaches is specifically covered by the National Service Framework (NSF) for Long-term Conditions. The NSF has a 10-year implementation programme from its publication in March 2005, with flexibility for organisations to set the pace of change locally to take account of local priorities and needs. A copy of the NSF is available in the Library.
	Information on the number of specialist headache clinics is not collected.

Mental Health Services

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps will be taken to safeguard the provision of mental health advocacy services not linked to the operation of the Mental Health Act or Mental Capacity Act.

Ivan Lewis: "Putting People First: a shared vision and commitment to the transformation of Adult Social Care" sets out, for the first time, the vision, ambitious and components of the future system in one place. In particular, it recognises the need to empower citizens to shape their own lives, the support they receive, and the role that access to universal information and advocacy will play in making this a reality.
	The Social Care Reform Grant provides three years of ring-fenced funding to support councils to undertake the necessary reforms to deliver this transformation. Councils will be expected to have made significant steps towards redesigning and reshaping their adult social care services (in the light of their Joint Strategic Needs Assessments), to have the core components of a personalised system in place by 2011.
	One of the core components of a transformed adult social care system is a universal, joined-up information and advice available for all individuals and carers, including those who self-assess and fund. The grant determination is clear that links to advocacy and support services will need to be considered where individuals do not have a carer or in circumstances where they require support to articulate their needs and/or utilise the personal budget.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of Choose and Book  (a) Phase 1 release 1,  (b) Phase 1 release 2 and  (c) Phase 2 release 1 deliveries have been made for the (i) NHS IT National Data Spine and (ii) local services in (A) the North Eastern cluster, (B) London, (C) Eastern and East Midlands, (D) North West and West Midlands and (E) Southern.

Ben Bradshaw: Choose and book is a national service and Release 1.0 was originally delivered on 2 July 2004.
	This was against the version of the Spine that was then known as Phase 1 Release 1 (P1R1).
	Since this time, there have been a number of functional and patch releases, all to the National Choose and Book Service and all compliant with the National Spine and Patient Demographics Service. The most recent of these was a Release 3.6.3 delivered on 26 January 2008 and this is the current live version for all users, nationally.
	The next release, 4.0, is a major release due in April 2008 and this will deliver exciting new functionality such as free choice of secondary-care provided services and the ability for service providers to describe their services using SNOMED clinical terminology.
	The clusters A to E have now been superseded by 10 regional strategic health authorities. The original plan was for local service providers in each of these areas to make local General Practitioner and Hospital Patient Administration Systems (PAS) available to integrate with choose and book and the National Spine. The deliveries from each of these is ongoing but all acute trusts in England have services published on choose and book, over 140 of which do so using a compliant PAS system. These are provided in the main by existing systems suppliers that have aligned their systems with the choose and book application and that local acute trusts have chosen to retain.

NHS: Performing Arts

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was paid by the NHS to the Performing Right Society for small premises licence tariffs in each of the last five years for which data is available.
	(2)  how many NHS premises held Performing Right Society small premises licences in each of the last five years for which data is available.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not held centrally.

Departmental Official Cars

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what make and model of car  (a) she and  (b) each Minister in her Department selected as their official ministerial car; and what criteria were applied when making the decision in each case.

Liam Byrne: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Jim Fitzpatrick) gave to him on 10 March 2008,  Official Report, column 8W.

Immigration

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her latest estimate is of the number of failed asylum seekers who are resident in the UK.

Liam Byrne: No government has ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally and this includes failed asylum seekers. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately and that remains the case.
	Exit controls were phased out from 1994. As part of the Government's 10-point plan for delivery, by Christmas 2008 the majority of foreign nationals will be counted in and out of the country. This will build on the successes of our early testing of the e-Borders programme (Project Semaphore) which already covers over 30 million passenger movements and has led to 18,000 alerts and more than 1,500 arrests.
	This is part of a sweeping programme of border protection which also includes the global roll-out of fingerprint visas, compulsory watch-list checks for all travellers from high-risk countries before they land in Britain and ID cards for foreign nationals.

Employment Agencies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1365W, on Employment Agencies, what recruitment agencies his Department has used in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 18 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1496W by the then Financial Secretary (Mr. Healey).

Northern Rock: Consultants

Richard Ottaway: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Richard Branson's consortium for Northern Rock includes the Far Eastern Investment Corporation.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 5 February 2008,  Official report, column 1048.

Northern Rock: Consultants

Michael Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he estimates his Department will pay to  (a) lawyers and  (b) bankers for advice concerning Northern Rock.

Angela Eagle: As the Chancellor informed the chairs of the Treasury Committee and Public Accounts Committee on 11 October 2007, Northern Rock has indemnified the Treasury in respect of certain costs and expenses, including advisor costs. Slaughter and May has provided legal advice outside the scope of the indemnity. Fees of £139, 000 have so far been paid for this advice.

Press

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total annual cost of the press offices of  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies were in each year since 1996-97; what the cost was in each quarter since 1 April 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1879W by the former Financial Secretary (John Healey).
	The administration costs of the Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce are published in the annual report and accounts each year, copies of which are available in the Library and at;
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/about_index.cfm
	The Government Actuary's Department does not have a Press Office. Figures for HM Revenue and Customs, National Savings and Investments and the Office for National Statistics figures are given as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			   HMRC  NS and I  ONS 
			 2001-02 3,870 — 663 
			 2002-03 3,402 943 635 
			 2003-04 2,526 801 580 
			 2004-05 1,674 881 600 
			 2005-06 2,022 1,080 556 
			 2006-07 2,602 960 512

Public Expenditure

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the needs assessment that preceded the introduction of the Barnett formula that the Prime Minister referred to in his oral answer to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley on 19 March 2008,  Official Report, column 921.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 26 March 2008
	The Treasury published in December 1979 a "Needs Assessment Study—Report", an inter-departmental study co-ordinated by HM Treasury on the relative public expenditure needs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A copy is being deposited in the Library. The system for determining changes in public spending by the devolved administrations is set out in the Statement of Funding Policy published by the Treasury in October 2007.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1017W, on Revenue and Customs: data protection, how many hours per week data guardians are expected to spend on their work in that role.

Jane Kennedy: The time required to be spent on the Data Guardian role varies in line with the differing data handling and processing requirements of each HMRC business unit.

Unemployment: Greater London

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the  (a) male and  (b) female population of each London borough were (i) unemployed and (ii) economically inactive in each year since 2000.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Jil Matheson dated 31 March 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the percentage of the  (a) male and (b) female population of each London borough who were (i) unemployed and (ii) economically inactive in each year since 2000. I am replying in her absence. (196514)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles estimates of unemployment and inactivity for local areas for women and men from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Tables 1 and 2 attached, show the percentage of males and females aged 16 and over, resident in each London borough, who were unemployed. Tables 3 and 4 attached, show the percentage of males and females, of working age, resident in each London borough who was economically inactive. Estimates are obtained from the annual LFS for each 12 month period from 2001 to 2004. For time series comparisons, the APS estimates from 2005 to 2007 are provided covering the 12 month periods ending in March, but the most recently released estimates are also included, which cover the 12 month period ending in June 2007.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
	
		
			  Table 1: Percentage of males aged 16 and over resident in each London borough who were unemployed in each year since 2000 
			  Percentage 
			   For 12 months ending 
			 London borough ( 1) February 01 ( 1) February 02 ( 1) February 03 ( 1) February 04 ( 2) March 05 ( 2) March 05 ( 2) March 06 ( 2) March 07 
			 Barking and Dagenham (3)— (3)— 11 7 10 11 7 7 
			 Barnet (3)— (3)— (3—) (3) 6 7 6 6 
			 Bexley (3)— (3)— (3—) (3) 3 5 6 5 
			 Brent 10 11 10 7 11 9 12 11 
			 Bromley (3)— (3)— (3—) 5 5 3 5 5 
			 Camden (3)— (3)— 10 9 6 7 8 7 
			 City of London (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			 Croydon (3)— 7 8 8 5 7 9 9 
			 Ealing 8 8 7 5 5 11 8 9 
			 Enfield (3)— 8 (3)— 6 4 11 4 3 
			 Greenwich 10 10 10 10 9 10 11 12 
			 Hackney 20 15 12 12 13 13 11 14 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham (3)— (3)— 9 10 11 10 9 11 
			 Haringey 15 11 11 9 12 7 7 6 
			 Harrow (3)— (3)— (3)— 5 8 8 6 5 
			 Havering (3)— (3)— (3)— 5 4 6 3 3 
			 Hillingdon (3)— (3)— (3)— 4 4 12 8 7 
			 Hounslow (3)— (3)— (3)— 7 10 8 7 7 
			 Islington (3)— 9 (3)— 9 8 9 9 11 
			 Kensington and Chelsea (3)— (3)— (3)— 7 7 6 6 6 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames (3)— (3)— (3)— 2 6 4 3 1 
			 Lambeth 9 8 13 8 10 9 8 9 
			 Lewisham (3)— 13 14 11 8 8 9 9 
			 Merton (3)— (3—) (3)— 7 7 7 8 8 
			 Newham 13 11 14 10 9 9 10 8 
			 Redbridge 9 (3)— 8 6 5 6 8 7 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames (3—) (3)— (3)— 5 4 2 4 5 
			 Southwark 12 14 12 14 9 11 9 8 
			 Sutton (3)— (3)— (3—) 4 4 2 4 4 
			 Tower Hamlets 13 14 13 15 14 13 13 15 
			 Waltham Forest (3)— (3)— (3)— 9 10 10 6 7 
			 Wandsworth (3)— 7 7 7 3 8 7 5 
			 Westminster, City of 10 7 7 9 7 12 6 7 
			 1. Figures provided by the Annual Labour Force Survey. 2. Figures provided by the Annual Population Survey. 3 These figures are suppressed as statistically unreliable or disclosive.  Source: Annual Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey national. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  2 : Percentage of  fe males aged 16 and over resident in each London borough who were unemployed in each year since 2000 
			  Percentage 
			   For 12 months ending 
			  London borough ( 1) February 01 ( 1) February 02 ( 1) February 03 ( 1) February 04 ( 2) March 05 ( 2) March 06 ( 2) March 0 7 ( 2) June 07 
			 Barking and Dagenham (3)— (3)— (3)— 10 9 7 11 10 
			 Barnet (3)— (3)— (3)— 6 6 6 6 6 
			 Bexley (3—) (3—) (3—) 5 4 3 6 6 
			 Brent (3—) (3—) 11 8 5 7 9 10 
			 Bromley (3—) (3—) 3— 6 5 4 4 4 
			 Camden (3—) (3—) 7 8 7 8 6 7 
			 City of London (3—) (3—) (3—) (3—) (3—) (3—) (3—) (3—) 
			 Croydon (3—) (3—) (3—) 5 8 8 6 6 
			 Ealing (3—) (3—) (3—) 6 6 9 7 7 
			 Enfield (3—) (3—) (3—) 5 6 8 5 5 
			 Greenwich (3—) (3—) 9 8 7 6 6 5 
			 Hackney 12 (3—) (3—) 6 9 7 13 11 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham (3—) (3—) (3—) 5 7 6 8 8 
			 Haringey (3—) (3—) (3—) 5 8 11 7 6 
			 Harrow (3—) (3—) (3—) 13 6 6 9 9 
			 Havering (3—) (3—) (3—) 4 3 7 2 3 
			 Hillingdon (3—) (3—) (3—) 5 3 7 6 4 
			 Hounslow (3—) (3—) (3—) 5 7 9 9 9 
			 Islington (3—) 10 (3—) 7 7 5 7 8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea (3—) (3—) (3—) 7 4 8 8 9 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames (3—) (3—) (3—) 4 4 9 4 4 
			 Lambeth 11 (3—) (3—) 10 11 9 10 12 
			 Lewisham (3—) (3—) (3—) 9 8 7 10 9 
			 Merton (3—) (3—) (3—) 11 5 11 5 5 
			 Newham 16 (3—) 10 8 11 8 19 17 
			 Redbridge (3—) (3—) (3—) 3 5 3 6 6 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames (3—) (3—) (3—) 3 6 5 3 3 
			 Southwark 13 (3—) (3—) 13 14 5 8 9 
			 Sutton (3—) (3—) (3—) 4 6 4 8 7 
			 Tower Hamlets (3—) (3—) 13 8 11 13 14 15 
			 Waltham Forest (3—) (3—) (3—) 8 7 5 7 8 
			 Wandsworth (3—) 5 7 4 5 6 8 5 
			 Westminster, City of (3—) (3—) (3—) 7 9 9 7 9 
			 (1). Figures provided by the Annual Labour Force Survey. (2). Figures provided by the Annual Population Survey. (3) These figures are suppressed as statistically unreliable or disclosive.  Source: Annual Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Percentage of males of working age resident in each London borough who were economically inactive in each year since 2000 
			  Percentage 
			   For 12 months ending 
			  London borough ( 1) February 01 ( 1) February 02 ( 1) February 03 ( 1) February 04 ( 2) March 05 ( 2) March 06 ( 2) March 0 7 ( 2) June 07 
			 Barking and Dagenham 28 18 19 20 25 24 20 20 
			 Barnet 13 11 11 16 17 19 17 17 
			 Bexley 16 15 13 16 15 15 14 16 
			 Brent 24 19 22 23 21 17 16 15 
			 Bromley 13 13 14 15 13 14 10 11 
			 Camden 21 19 21 16 26 24 23 23 
			 City of London (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			 Croydon 13 15 11 13 14 14 17 16 
			 Ealing 24 17 22 18 15 19 14 16 
			 Enfield 18 17 17 16 23 16 17 19 
			 Greenwich 12 17 21 19 20 18 19 18 
			 Hackney 29 28 25 24 27 32 25 24 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 18 15 16 13 16 21 18 17 
			 Haringey 21 26 26 32 25 21 20 21 
			 Harrow 11 18 17 18 13 18 17 14 
			 Havering 13 14 11 12 16 14 16 15 
			 Hillingdon 15 12 16 15 15 13 19 18 
			 Hounslow 14 17 20 18 18 12 13 16 
			 Islington 26 20 24 23 22 28 21 20 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 16 19 21 18 24 16 23 22 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 12 13 13 13 18 20 14 15 
			 Lambeth 19 20 19 19 19 24 17 17 
			 Lewisham 16 21 16 22 14 19 20 21 
			 Merton 17 13 12 9 11 17 14 12 
			 Newham 31 30 30 34 26 26 21 24 
			 Redbridge 22 18 17 17 18 21 18 19 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames (3)— 11 11 16 19 17 14 13 
			 Southwark 18 21 26 23 24 21 20 21 
			 Sutton (3)— 9 11 14 15 12 11 12 
			 Tower Hamlets 27 27 26 25 27 25 25 25 
			 Waltham Forest 21 22 19 22 20 19 25 22 
			 Wandsworth 13 9 11 12 15 18 17 16 
			 Westminster, City of 20 22 21 21 22 23 28 27 
			 (1). Figures provided by the Annual Labour Force Survey. (2). Figures provided by the Annual Population Survey. (3) These figures are suppressed as statistically unreliable or disclosive.  Source: Annual Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  4 : Percentage of  fe males of working age resident in each London borough who were economically inactive in each year since 2000 
			  Percentage 
			   For 12 months ending 
			  London borough ( 1) February 01 ( 1) February 02 ( 1) February 03 ( 1) February 04 ( 2) March 05 ( 2) March 06 ( 2) March 0 7 ( 2) June 07 
			 Barking and Dagenham 39 38 37 39 37 39 36 37 
			 Barnet 30 31 31 35 34 27 32 30 
			 Bexley 26 28 27 23 22 21 26 29 
			 Brent 37 33 38 37 38 35 38 35 
			 Bromley 22 25 31 26 20 20 25 24 
			 Camden 36 37 34 33 36 40 35 34 
			 City of London (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			 Croydon 28 25 27 27 24 26 27 23 
			 Ealing 37 37 30 30 33 34 33 36 
			 Enfield 34 36 36 33 36 34 33 38 
			 Greenwich 31 33 36 37 36 32 29 32 
			 Hackney 41 40 41 47 48 49 41 39 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 32 30 32 29 33 27 30 30 
			 Haringey 46 42 35 45 37 35 32 32 
			 Harrow 25 29 31 29 30 27 27 28 
			 Havering 24 25 24 22 26 24 26 24 
			 Hillingdon 29 29 24 31 25 27 30 33 
			 Hounslow 28 26 30 30 31 28 30 28 
			 Islington 40 37 38 35 35 39 34 33 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 36 42 41 37 43 40 45 41 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 30 25 23 25 25 21 27 26 
			 Lambeth 25 29 29 36 32 37 39 35 
			 Lewisham 29 ' 32 29 26 30 32 26 27 
			 Merton 27 26 21 23 30 29 23 24 
			 Newham 52 49 51 51 54 45 46 45 
			 Redbridge 32 29 31 33 30 38 35 37 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 20 23 20 29 30 25 24 26 
			 Southwark 42 34 31 29 31 42 39 38 
			 Sutton 19 18 22 26 20 23 24 22 
			 Tower Hamlets 52 47 53 49 49 52 49 51 
			 Waltham Forest 28 31 34 38 40 33 30 31 
			 Wandsworth 21 22 27 27 27 28 26 27 
			 Westminster, City of 38 38 42 43 39 38 38 41 
			 (1). Figures provided by the Annual Labour Force Survey. (2). Figures provided by the Annual Population Survey. (3) These figures are suppressed as statistically unreliable or disclosive.  Source: Annual Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey. 
		
	
	—continued

Welfare Tax Credits: Compensation

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  for what reasons HM Revenue and Customs pays compensation to tax credit claimants; and how the amount of compensation is determined;
	(2)  how many compensation payments have been made by HM Revenue and Customs to tax credit claimants for problems with their awards in each year since April 2003; what the sum of payments in each quarter was; and how many families have received  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three and  (d) more than three compensation payments.

Jane Kennedy: The circumstances in which HM Revenue and Customs will make compensation payments to its customers are explained in the Department's fact sheet C/FS 'Complaints and Putting Things Right' which is available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/factsheets/complaints-factsheet.pdf. The Department will pay compensation for reasonable costs incurred as a direct result of its mistakes or delays and to recognise worry and distress caused by those mistakes and delays. The value of each payment is decided according to individual circumstances.
	For the number and value of such payments made to tax credit customers I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for St. Albans, (Anne Main) on 23 January 2008,  Official Report , columns 2100-01W. The updated figures for 2007-08 to the end of February are:
	
		
			   2007-08 
			  Value (£ million) 0.414 
			  Number 9,374 
		
	
	Information on the number of such payments made to each family is not available in that level of detail requested.

Apprentices: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many apprenticeships were  (a) available and  (b) taken up in the London borough of Enfield in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: Figures on the number of places available are not collected centrally.
	Figures for those starting Apprenticeships can be derived from the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) Individualised Learner Record (ILR) and are available at
	http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/partners/frameworks/apprenticeshipsdata
	Following the Machinery of Government announcements, the LSC is working to update its systems so that data by local authority area are readily available. Residence-based data at a local authority level is something that will be built into reporting systems, however historic data based upon the contracting local LSG area are provided in response to this question.
	The following table shows the starts on apprenticeships and in advanced apprenticeships in the London North LSC for each of the last 5 years for which data are available (based on home post code of the learner).
	
		
			   Advanced Apprenticeships  Apprenticeships 
			 2002-03 350 480 
			 2003-04 440 610 
			 2004-05 400 700 
			 2005-06 670 400 
			 2006-07 490 530 
			  Source: Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Individualised Learned Record (ILR). Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Children in Care: General Certificate of Secondary Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of 16-year-olds in care obtained  (a) at least one GCSE at any grade,  (b) at least one GCSE at grades A* to C,  (c) five GCSEs at any grade,  (d) five GCSEs at grades A* to C and  (e) five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Data collected since 2000 and published in 'Outcome Indicators for Looked After Children twelve months to 30 September' show the GCSE performance or equivalents of children who were looked after for at least 12 months. The available information for England is shown in the table.
	
		
			  GCSE performance or equivalents of children who are looked after continuously for at least 12 months in Year 11( 1) , 12 months ending 30 September 2000 to 2006, England 
			   1 GCSE at grade A*-G or a GNVC  5 A*-C GCSE (or equivalent)  5 A*-G GCSE grades (or equivalent) 
			   Number  Percentage( 2)  Number  Percentage( 2)  Number  Percentage( 2) 
			 2000 1,900 492 300 7.3 1,400 35.5 
			 2001 2,100 49.6 330 8.0 1,400 33.1 
			 2002 2,300 53.2 320 7.5 1,500 36.3 
			 2003 2,400 52.9 400 8.7 1,700 36.8 
			 2004 2,700 56.1 450 9.4 1,900 39.4 
			 2005 2,900 60.2 510 10.8 1,900 40.7 
			 2006 3,200 63.2 600 11.8 2,100 41.4 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 1,000, and to the nearest 100 if over 1,000. (2) Expressed as a percentage of all locked after children in Year 11.  Source: OC2 Survey 
		
	
	We do not collect information about the numbers of looked after children who achieve A*-C GCSE grades in English or mathematics separately. However, these data are available at a local level enabling local authorities to set targets for the attainment of looked after children at key stage 4 which include English and mathematics. These targets are negotiated with the National Strategies and Government offices and form a statutory part of a local authority's local area agreement.
	At national level the DCSF is matching data on looked after children to the National Pupil Database (NPD) which provides a wide range of data on the educational attainment of children and young people. From 2009 an initial analysis of looked after children to attainment data along with a range of other data will be available, including English and mathematics at GCSE.
	Not enough progress has been made on improving the educational achievement of looked after children (LAC). They often face a wide range of barriers to learning that most children do not experience. However, we are determined to do more and improving the education of LAC is a top priority. It is key to improving their life chances and a successful transition to adulthood.
	We have set out our intentions in 'Care Matters: Time for change' and the implementation plan 'Care Matters: Time to deliver for children in care' published by the Government with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Children's Services, on 26 march 2008.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of  (a) childcarers in daycare settings and  (b) childminders in (i) Basingstoke constituency, (ii) Hampshire and (ii) England were male in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The 2006 Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey estimated that the average proportion of male staff working in full day care settings in England was 2 per cent. In total, there were 2,500 male staff working in full day care settings in England. In 2006, 2 per cent. of childminders working in England were male, approximately, 1,200 individuals. Data for each year available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Table: Ma le staff working in full day care  settings or as childminders in England 
			   Full day care  Childminders 
			   Average proportion of male staff per setting ( percentage )  Total number of male staff  Proportion of childminders ( percentage )  Total number of male childminders 
			 1998 — — 0.5 470 
			 2001 2 1,900 1 400 
			 2003 2 2,000 1 800 
			 2005 2 2,500 2 1,000 
			 2006 2 2,500 2 1,200 
			  Note: Different definitions of childcare providers were used in the 1998 survey; it is not possible to provide comparable figures on full day care staff for this year. 
		
	
	Data is not available at a local authority level.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of  (a) male and  (b) female childminders were (i) white and (ii) black and minority ethnic persons in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of  (a) male and  (b) female childcarers in daycare settings were (i) white and (ii) black and minority ethnic persons in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The 2006 Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey estimated that 6 per cent. of childminders working in England were from a black and minority ethnic (BME) background, a total of 3,000 individuals. The average proportion of staff from a BME background working in full day care settings in England was 9 per cent. In total, there were 13,000 BME staff working in full day care settings in England.
	Data for each year available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Table: Ethnicity of staff working in full day care settings or as childminders in England 
			   2001  2003  2005  2006 
			  Full day care 
			 Average proportion of BME staff per setting (percentage) 8 8 10 9 
			 Average proportion of staff per setting not from a BME group (percentage) 92 92 90 91 
			 Total number of BME staff 7,500 8,800 13,550 13,000 
			 Total number of staff not from a BME group 86,800 102,300 119,100 130,100 
			  Childminders 
			 Proportion of BME childminders (percentage) 11 13 7 6 
			 Proportion of childminders not from a BME group (percentage) 89 86 92 93 
			 Total number of BME childminders 8,100 9,500 4,000 3,600 
			 Total number of childminders not from a BME group 64,100 63,100 53,200 53,800 
			  Note: Full day care figures for 2005 and 2006 on the average proportion of staff per setting not from a BME group and the total number of staff not from a BME group have been estimated using the figures for staff from a BME group and the overall number of paid staff. 
		
	
	Data on the ethnicity of male and female childminders and full day care staff is not available.

Children: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children under the age of 16 years were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) region and  (b) type of infection.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on the number of diagnoses of the five main sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis, genital warts and anogenital herpes) in under 16-year-olds in the last five years, by strategic health authority has been placed in the Library.

Citizenship: Curriculum

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what plans he has to improve the coverage of citizenship in schools, with particular reference to the coverage of political literacy, as referred to in the National Foundation for Educational Research report Vision versus pragmatism;
	(2)  how many teachers teach citizenship in secondary schools; and how many of these are specialists in the subject;
	(3)  with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Stafford on 23 October 2007,  Official Report, column 213W, on the curriculum: citizenship, what steps he plans to take to raise the status of citizenship with head teachers;
	(4)  how many schools deliver citizenship courses through discrete classes.

Jim Knight: We are committed to improving the coverage of citizenship education and the quality of citizenship teaching within the school curriculum. Citizenship has been a statutory national curriculum subject since 2002. The recent review of secondary education provided an opportunity to look at the clarity of teaching requirements for this subject alongside all the other subjects in the national curriculum. The new secondary curriculum for citizenship was published in August 2007 for first teaching from September 2008. We are developing a new, full GCSE and A-level in citizenship studies, in response to demand.
	The 2002 Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS) estimated that there were around 9,000 teachers of Citizenship in maintained secondary schools, with 6 per cent. of them holding a post A-level qualification in the subject.
	Over 200 new specialist citizenship teachers are trained every year through initial teacher training courses (PGCEs) to teach in secondary schools. A programme of continuing professional development (CPD) was launched in 2006, in collaboration with higher education institutions across the country. The five-day course is free for teachers to access. It requires teachers to meet high standards for teaching citizenship in schools, with a particular focus on imparting knowledge and understanding of the subject area. We have made available 600 places a year in 2007-08. We have also funded the Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT), established in 2003, which provides a focus for professional development among teachers and advice, training and support for schools.
	Citizenship education makes an important contribution to developing young people's political literacy. It enables them to improve their understanding and develop skills of democratic participation while helping them to appreciate that they have a stake in society. Young people are taught about democratic institutions, processes and the importance of voting. We are keen to encourage active learning so that young people start early to experience democracy in action. We are also working with the Royal Geographical Society and the Historical Association to develop resources and support for schools for a new 'Who Do We Think We Are?' week in schools, which will provide a focus for activity around diversity and identify and offer schools the chance to explore these issues collectively.
	DCSF guidance to schools on their new duty to promote to community cohesion (July 2007) highlights the importance of citizenship education and we have reinforced this message to heads through nine regional conferences and a resource pack for schools being produced in association with the Institute of Community Cohesion, due for publication in April. We will continue to look for ways to emphasise the importance of citizenship to school leaders.
	Schools have developed various ways of delivering citizenship in the curriculum: as a discrete subject; within personal, social and health education (PSHE); as citizenship across the curriculum; and through days when the normal timetable is suspended. We do not collect data on how many schools deliver citizenship through discrete classes.

Departmental Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many officials from his Department, broken down by grade, attended the cross-government working group on anti-Semitism on 15 November; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government on 22 November 2007,  Official  R eport, column 1012W.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons his Department's spending detailed in the Budget 2008 Red Book was lower than that set out in the 2007 Pre-Budget Report; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: The Department for Children, Schools and Families' spending plan set out in the Budget 2008 Red Book (see Table C11) are the same as set in the 2007 pre-Budget report (see Table B13). For the 2008-09 to 2010-11 period, DCSF's resource budget will be respectively £46.9 billion/£49.2 billion/£51.9 billion and the capital budget will be £6.0 billion/£6.4 billion/£7.7 billion. Changes to DCSF's 2007-08 outturn estimate are due to underspends, which will be available for the Department to use in future years.

Foster Care

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the level of diversity of foster care providers; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 25 March 2008
	A recent review of fostering provision commissioned by my Department reported that as at 31 March 2005, there were 188 independent festering agencies, 146 total authority fostering agencies, 46 voluntary fostering agencies and five agencies categorised as "other"(1).
	(1) Source :
	RW74, DfES Children's Services: Children's Homes and Fostering (published by DfES/DCSF on 31 August 2006)

Reading: Teaching Methods

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local education authorities participated in the  (a) initial and  (b) subsequent pilot using synthetic phonics to teach children to read.

Jim Knight: The Early Reading Development pilot (ERDp) ran in 18 local authorities during 2005/06.
	The local authorities involved in this pilot were:
	Barnsley
	Cheshire
	Coventry
	Hertfordshire
	Islington
	Leeds
	Liverpool
	Luton
	Manchester
	Medway
	Nottingham City
	Peterborough
	Redcar and Cleveland
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Tameside
	Tower Hamlets
	Waltham Forest
	Wiltshire.
	In 2006/07, the Communication, Language and Literacy Development (CLLD) programme was developed, implementing the recommendations from the Rose Review. 32 further local authorities participated in. the programme (in addition to the 18 local authorities who had been involved in the ERDp):
	Bath and North East Somerset
	Birmingham
	Blackburn with Darwen
	Bury
	Dorset
	Ealing
	East Sussex
	Essex
	Gloucestershire
	Greenwich
	Hackney
	Hammersmith and Fulham
	Haringey
	Hartlepool
	Kent
	Kingston-upon-Hull
	Knowsley
	Lambeth
	Lewisham
	Middlesbrough
	North Tyneside
	Oldham
	Sandwell
	Sefton
	Sheffield
	Shropshire
	Southampton
	Southwark
	Surrey
	Swindon
	Thurrock
	Torbay.
	From April 2008, a further 50 local authorities will join the CLLD programme:
	Barking and Dagenham
	Bolton
	Bradford
	Brent
	Bristol, City of
	Calderdale
	Camden
	Cornwall
	Croydon
	Cumbria
	Derby
	Derbyshire
	Doncaster
	Dudley
	Durham
	Enfield
	Gateshead
	Halton
	Hampshire
	Hounslow
	Kirklees
	Lancashire
	Leicester
	Lincolnshire
	Newcastle upon Tyne
	Newham
	Norfolk
	North East Lincolnshire
	Northamptonshire
	Northumberland
	Nottinghamshire
	Plymouth
	Rochdale
	Rotherham
	Salford
	South Tyneside
	St. Helens
	Staffordshire
	Stockport
	Stockton-on-Tees
	Suffolk
	Sunderland
	Wakefield
	Walsall
	Wandsworth
	Westminster
	Wigan
	Wirrall
	Wolverhampton
	Worcestershire.

School Improvement Partners

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  who is responsible for  (a) employing and  (b) setting the salary of school improvement partners;
	(2)  what advice he has given to  (a) schools and  (b) local education authorities on the starting salaries for school improvement partners;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of hours worked by school improvement partners in each local education authority in the last 12 months;
	(4)  what advice he has given to schools on the employment, recruitment and retention of school improvement partners;
	(5)  what the total cost was to each local education authority of school improvement partners in the last 12 months;
	(6)  how many school improvement partners were employed in each local education authority at the latest date for which figures are available; and what the cost was in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(7)  what estimate he has made of the average salaries of school improvement partners in each local education authority in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information is as follows.
	 197089 and 197090
	A nationally accredited School Improvement Partner (SIP) programme has been introduced into every school in phases, the final phase being in April 2008. The programme was made a statutory requirement in the 2006 Education and Inspections Act. The SIP works for, and on behalf of, the local authority (LA) and is the channel for LAs' engagement with schools on school improvement. LAs both employ and set salary levels for SIPs. Pay levels are not determined centrally, because SIPs work under contract to the maintaining authorities of the schools with which they work. In each case it is for the individual authority to negotiate pay levels with their SIPs.
	 197091
	We do not collect this information centrally. However, on average, we expect a SIP to devote five days to a school every year. Generally around three days of this support takes place in school, while preparation and data analysis occurs out of school and accounts for the balance of the time. In addition, every SIP is expected to set aside a total of four additional days a year for professional development and for attending national, regional and local events.
	 197092
	The Department provides information, advice and guidance to local authorities about deploying, managing, developing and supporting the performance of their SIPs through "School Improvement Partner programme, Advice and guidance for local authorities (3rd edition, ref: 00633-2007BKT-EN)"; the guidance is regularly updated and circulated to local authorities. It fully recognises the unique circumstances and contexts in which each local authority operates, and builds on good practice found in LAs during the first two full years of the SIP programme.
	 197093
	We do not collect this information centrally.
	 197094
	Since September 2006 all secondary schools have had a SIP. Primary SIPs have been introduced in phases with the first phase being completed in April 2008. On 26 March 2008, there were 1,670 primary SIPs working in 114 LAs and 1,172 secondary SIPs working in 150 LAs. Decisions on the deployment of SIPs are determined by LAs. Information on the cost of employing SIPs is not collected centrally and is a matter for the LA that employs the SIP.
	 197145
	We do not collect this information centrally.

Schools: Admissions

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) selective places and  (b) applicants for those places there were in each local authority with schools that selected wholly or partially by ability in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) There are 164 schools designated as grammar schools under section 104 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The number of pupils in grammar schools during the last three years is as follows
	
		
			   Number 
			 2005 154,065 
			 2006 155,484 
			 2007 156,796 
		
	
	Some 40 schools that did so before 1997 operate partial selection by ability in various proportions. We do not have data on the numbers of selective places in such schools.
	 (b) The Department does not collect-data on the number of applicants for selective places.

Teachers: Documents

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many documents were sent from his Department to head teachers of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools either in hard copy or via email since 18 December 2007.

Jim Knight: It is departmental policy not to send documents to schools either in hard copy or via e-mail. In communications to schools via e-mail we provide links to documents that can be downloaded.
	We send a regular fortnightly e-mail to schools. There have been seven sent since 18 December 2007. On occasion it is necessary to send a bespoke e-mail containing an item of significant importance (or to schools falling within a particular category e.g. admission authorities). Four have been sent since 18 December 2007.

Truancy: Penalties

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many fixed penalty notices have been issued in relation to condoned absenteeism of pupils; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department began collecting data in September 2004 on the number of penalty notices issued by local authorities to parents in respect of the offence of failing to ensure their children's regular school attendance. Between 1 September 2004 to 31 December 2007, the data shows that 35,229 parents were issued with penalty notices.

Arms Length Management Organisations: Finance

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the remaining Round 6 arms-length management organisations will be informed of the results of their bids for decent homes funding.

Iain Wright: 10 of the 15 local authorities under round six of the arms length management organisation (ALMO) programme have been informed of the results of their bids for decent homes funding.
	Officials are in discussions with the remaining five authorities and expect to conclude those negotiations shortly.

Homelessness: Newcastle Upon Tyne

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households were accepted as eligible for assistance for homelessness in Newcastle upon Tyne in each quarter from 1 January 2006; and how many households were in temporary accommodation from 1 January 2006.

Iain Wright: Information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected quarterly at local authority level.
	Under the legislation, authorities have a duty to secure suitable accommodation for applicants accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need (or take steps to secure that accommodation does not cease to be available if the applicant is likely to become homeless within 28 days). These duties are referred to as the main homelessness duties, and applicants who are accepted as owed a main duty are referred to as homeless acceptances. Applicants who are eligible for assistance, but not owed a main duty (for example, because they are not in priority need), must be provided with advice and assistance in any attempts they make to secure accommodation for themselves; they are not recorded as homeless acceptances.
	An authority must secure suitable accommodation for an accepted household. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	Information on the number of applicants eligible for assistance (including a breakdown of those who are, and are not, accepted as owed a main duty) is published in our quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, which also includes data on the number of households in temporary accommodation at the end of the quarter. The Supplementary Tables give figures for each local authority, including Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and are published on our website and placed in the Library each quarter. The latest release was published on 10 March 2008 and contains data for the period October to December 2007:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/714968
	Data for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, taken from the table for the period October to December 2007, are provided below, and gives (1) the number of eligible households on which a decision was taken under the homelessness legislation (referred to as decisions) during the quarter, of which (2) the number that were accepted as owed a main duty (acceptances), and also (3) the number of households in temporary accommodation at the end of the quarter:
	
		
			  Decisions, acceptances and temporary accommodation- Newcastle-upon-Tyne, fourth quarter 2007 
			   Number 
			 (1) Number of eligible households on which a decision was taken under homelessness legislation (decisions), Q4 2007 205 
			 (2) Number of households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty (acceptances), Q4 2007 126 
			 (3) Number of households in temporary accommodation as at the end of the quarter (31 December 2007) 49 
			  Source: CLG Statutory Homelessness Statistical ReleaseSupplementary Table: Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts: fourth quarter 2007 
		
	
	Supplementary tables for each quarter back to 2006 are also available on our website (from the following link) and in the Library.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/

Housing: Low Incomes

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what plans her Department has for provision of affordable housing in  (a) Enfield and  (b) Greater London;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking to help first-time buyers access affordable housing in the London Borough of Enfield.

Iain Wright: The London Plan, the Spatial Development Strategy for London, sets a target of 30,500 net additional homes per year up to 2016-17, which includes 395 for the London borough of Enfield. Of these additional homes, 50 per cent. London-wide should be affordable. As the London borough of Enfield's Unitary Development Plan affordable housing policy was not saved under the new planning system introduced by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the London Plan 50 per cent. affordable housing target is the default target in the borough.
	Of the Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing Programme 2008-11 budget of 8.4 billion, 3.3 billion will be spent in London. Initial national allocations for new schemes of 3.3 billion were announced in February, of these London received total allocations of 603 million of which around 86 million is for low cost home ownership. Of this Enfield will benefit from over 6m of investment in affordable housing. Rather than allocating all their resources at the start of the programme, the Corporation will be returning to the market at regular intervals to seek further bids for funding affordable housing.
	We are improving affordability for purchasers accessing the Government's HomeBuy schemes. From April this year two new equity loan products will be available through the Government's Open Market HomeBuy option. The loans provide first time buyers with more flexibility around the percentage of the value of their home which can be borrowed - up to a maximum of 50 per cent.and more choice in the mortgage they can take out.
	In addition, in the Housing Corporation's 2008-11 Affordable Housing Programme we are improving affordability for purchasers of our New Build HomeBuy/shared ownership scheme through smaller shares and lower rents in the Housing Corporation's 2008-11 Affordable Housing programme.

Local Government: Reorganisation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of local government restructuring on the level of council reserves in councils facing restructuring or abolition prior to their restructuring or abolition.

John Healey: The proposals received by the Government included assessments by each of the proposing councils of the likely call on reserves. On the basis of our independent financial advisers' consideration of the proposals, we judge that creating the nine unitary councils we have decided to implement is likely to require an aggregate one off call on reserves of less than 80 million which will allow savings of over 100 million annually to be realised.

Members: Correspondence

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Woking dated 6 February, 27 February and 5 March 2008 on Mr. Graham Jones.

Parmjit Dhanda: I replied to the hon. Member for Woking on 20 March.

Planning: Children in Care

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether she has considered amending planning guidance to ensure that private children's homes require planning permission before operating in former private residential properties;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on the regulation of private children's homes operating in residential properties;
	(3)  what representations she has received on private children's care homes which operate from residential properties;
	(4)  what representations she has received on the operation of private residential children's homes by the company Greencorns;
	(5)  whether she has had discussions with the Local Government Association on the regulation of private children's homes operating in residential properties.

Iain Wright: Amendments to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 were made in 2005 following extensive consultation. The consultation process did not draw significant concerns regarding the status of children's homes in the Use Classes Order.
	Under existing planning regulations, the conversion of a residential dwelling to a children's home may require planning permission, depending on the characteristics of the proposed domestic arrangements and whether these are deemed to result in a material change of use. It is for each local planning authority to determine in the first instance, on a case-by-case basis, whether a material change of use is proposed and therefore whether planning permission is required.
	Under the Use Classes Order, a children's home may fall within the C2 Residential Institutions or C3 Dwelling Houses use class. Generally speaking, the conversion of a residential dwelling into a children's home which is considered to fall within the C2 use class would require planning permission, while a conversion to a children's home falling within C3 use class would not.
	The key test for whether a dwelling house used for non-family purposes should fall within the C3 Dwelling Houses use class is the concept of a single household. It would be difficult, in planning land-use terms, to differentiate between a dwelling house occupied by a group of young adults living together as a single household, from say a dwelling house used as a small children's home where the occupants live together as a single household.
	The single household concept provides more certainty over the planning position of small group homes (such as children's homes) which play a major role in the Government's community care policy. This policy is aimed at enabling people who need an element of care to live as normal lives as possible in touch with the community.
	The Department has received a small number of representations on this issue over the last year. One of these representations was from the hon. Member for Rochdale, and contained correspondence from a constituent and a local planning authority. This representation referred to operation of private children's homes by the company Green Corns Ltd.
	The Department has not held any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families nor the Local Government Association on this matter.

Southwest One

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what contractual provisions on  (a) accountability,  (b) audit and  (c) assurance of value for money there are in the agreement between Taunton Deane Borough Council and South West One over the provision of public services; what contractual provisions there are in the agreement relating to the role of the Audit Commission; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  who is on the permanent board of Southwest One;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the effect on costs to the public purse of the contract with Southwest One in each of the next five years, broken down by public sector client;
	(4)  what her policy is on the provision of  (a) further public services and  (b) public services to further public sector clients by Southwest One beyond the borders of the South West Regional Development Agency; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  what the cost of the contract for the provision of services by Southwest One has been to date; how much has been allocated for such provision in each of the next three years; and if she will make a statement;
	(6)  what estimate she has made of the effect on costs to the public purse of the contract with Southwest One in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09; and if she will make a statement;
	(7)  what process was followed in appointing IBM as preferred bidder to join Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council in establishing the joint venture partnership Soutwest One; what her role was in this process; and if she will make a statement;
	(8)  if she will make a statement on the future of public service provision by Southwest One; and what her policy is on the outsourcing of local services to joint venture partnerships.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department has not been involved in the process of developing the Southwest One partnership. The questions that you raise in relation to Southwest One are for Somerset county council and Taunton Deane borough council to answer.
	With respect to policy, we believe that councils can gain greater value for money through joint venture partnerships in some cases. Councils should, therefore, consider this as a potential option where appropriate.